diff --git a/zerver/actions/create_user.py b/zerver/actions/create_user.py
index 02e8418b0f..cb1f004052 100644
--- a/zerver/actions/create_user.py
+++ b/zerver/actions/create_user.py
@@ -180,9 +180,9 @@ def add_new_user_history(user_profile: UserProfile, streams: Iterable[Stream]) -
     recipient_ids = [stream.recipient_id for stream in streams if not stream.invite_only]
 
     # Start by finding recent messages matching those recipients.
-    one_month_ago = timezone_now() - ONBOARDING_RECENT_TIMEDELTA
+    cutoff_date = timezone_now() - ONBOARDING_RECENT_TIMEDELTA
     recent_message_ids = set(
-        Message.objects.filter(recipient_id__in=recipient_ids, date_sent__gt=one_month_ago)
+        Message.objects.filter(recipient_id__in=recipient_ids, date_sent__gt=cutoff_date)
         .order_by("-id")
         .values_list("id", flat=True)[0:MAX_NUM_ONBOARDING_MESSAGES]
     )